Maintaining A Clean And Safe Work Area

Every house has a work area, which is typically a separate room or part of the garage or basement. This work area is the place where you keep the tools and spares and the bulk of the rough and tough work is done. Practice "Clean as you go." A work area that is cluttered is more prone to accidents. Be wary of cords that can tangle, blades and sharp instruments that can cut and chemicals that can harm the skin and the eyes. A work area that is clean helps you do your work efficiently and correctly.

Practice good housekeeping of your work area. Put tools back in their proper place as soon as you finish using them. Avoid leaving them lying around where they can potentially cause accidents. Organize your tools and other items in your work are. Buy or find large storage boxes or cabinets. Place small tools in shoeboxes or small containers. Organize your electrical, chemical and mechanical tools by storing them separately. Make it easy to find the tools you need. If you want to have a clean and efficient work area, you need to continuously work on keeping it clean. You cannot simply do your housekeeping occasionally or whenever you feel like it. Accidents happen when you least expect it, and you may not be able to find the tools you need when you need them for urgent home repair jobs.

Make sure your work area has plenty of space for you to move around without tripping or hurting yourself. There should be a good amount of sunlight and air in your work area. Your work area should also have good lighting, particularly on your worktables. Your work area's floor should be slip resistant and always clean.

If you have electrical tools, the cords should not run everywhere. When electrical tools are not in use, their cords should be gathered and tied properly. Never leave blades and other sharp instruments lying around your worktables and floor. Ensure, too, that your tools are well maintained, kept clean and in working condition. Observe proper waste disposal, particularly when disposing of toxic and hazardous chemicals and other materials. Remove dust immediately before it accumulates. And finally, make sure you have safety precautions like fire extinguishers and first aid kits in a visible and easy to access place in case of emergencies.